Description
SONIFEX COMMENTARY UNIT - CM-CU21
The CM-CU21 is designed to provide the audio facilities needed by commentators at sporting or news event, providing microphone inputs for up to three commentators, and comprehensive headphone monitoring and talkback controls. The microphone inputs support most professional microphones, including the traditional ribbon lip-microphones and phantom-powered condenser models. Both mixed and direct outputs are available; the design has the capability to route four separate, incoming cue or talkback feeds to the headphones. Controls, once the unit is set up, are extremely simple to operate; a sophisticated test tone system is provided to ease connection to the studio or OB vehicle. While this is an up-to-date, digitally controlled design, the layout of the controls and operational principles will be familiar to generations of broadcasters.
The unit is designed to be used placed on a desk top. The upper panel has three groups of controls for commentators one, two and three. In the centre there is a LED bar-graph which shows the mix output level on a PPM scale, and LEDs to indicate the action of the limiter and the presence of power. The controls for commentator one and two are the same. The commentator's microphone is turned on with an large, electronically latching 'on-air' switch, which illuminates to show it is active. When active it feeds the output of the commentator's microphone to both the mix output and the appropriate commentator 'comm' output.
Six rotary controls adjust the level of the commentator himself, a mix of the other two commentators and 'Prog', A, B and C cue inputs in the commentator's headphones. In each case the signal can be switched to left, right or both headphone outputs by three-way recessed toggle switches. Two large illuminated switches are provided to allow the commentator to talk to the talkback mixes A and B. Designation strips, large enough for hand-written marking, are provided under each row of level controls and the talkback buttons. The third commentator position has an on-air button, a rotary control to adjust the level when the input is switched to line-level, and two rotary controls for the left and right headphone outputs. A three-way toggle switch offers the choice of commentator one and three, commentator three and two, to the left and right outputs respectively, or commentator one to the left, two to the right with commentator three to both.
The front panel, facing the operator, has the connections and preset controls for the microphones and headphones. There are three groups of connectors and controls. Each group has an XLR input for the microphone, and a stereo headphone output; locking Neutrik 6.35mm, A/B gauge jack sockets are used for the two main outputs, a non-locking type is used for the third. Adjacent to each XLR input, rotary preset controls adjust microphone gain, and a sensitivity switch offers a choice of 20dB or 50dB base gain; the preset control provides up to 30dB in addition. Channels one and two have a switch to apply phantom power to the microphone; channel three has a switch with a third position switching the channel to line input.
The rear panel has four 3-pin XLR connectors for the transformer balanced line-level cue inputs 'Prog', A, B, C which feed the headphone monitoring system. Seven 3-pin XLR connectors provide line-level outputs for the three commentator positions (after the on-air switching), talkback A and B, and the two mixed outputs. The 'comm' outputs are electronically balanced, the talkback and mix outputs are separately buffered and transformer balanced. An IEC inlet and a 4-pin male XLR offer the choice of AC and/or 12-24V DC power. A 15-pin D-sub connector provides general purpose inputs and outputs for the on-air and talkback push-buttons. Recessed toggle switches provide the on-air lock, gang the talkback, switch on the test-tone and activate the output limiter. The limiter switch has an associated screwdriver control to set the limiter level.
The on-air lock prevents an on-air switch from being de-activated once it has been pressed. When the talkback is 'ganged', the talkback A and B buttons for the two commentators are linked respectively. Pressing either of the 'A' buttons for example, will also activate the other. The test-tone generator can be operated either manually or automatically. In either mode, selection of the test-tone results in 0dBu 1kHz tone on the mix outputs. In manual mode all on-air and talkback buttons flash, and tone may be sent to the corresponding output by pressing the buttons. In automatic mode a tone is sent to the 'comm' and talkback outputs in pulses, the number of which identifies the source.
Configuration options are available in set-up mode, which change the operation of the 'on-air' and talkback switches and headphone routing, adjust the brightness of the buttons, LEDs and PPM. Settings may be saved to backup-sets which can then be reloaded when required.
Microphone input: -6dBu maximum, gain +20dB to +80dB. Noise: 130dB EIN, 80dB gain, 150ohms termination. Rejection: Better than 60dB CMRR. Response: 20Hz to 22kHz +/-0.5dB. Line input: +25dBu maximum, gain -83dB to +10dB. Rejection: 70dB CMRR. Response: 20Hz to 22kHz +/-0.2dB. Cue inputs: +25dBu maximum, gain -70dB to +7dB, measured at the headphone output. Rejection: Better than 60dB CMRR. Response: 20Hz to 22kHz +/-0.5dB. Main outputs: +24dBu maximum. Response: +/-0.5dB, 20Hz to 22kHz. Noise: -94dB. Distortion: 0.02% THD+N, 1kHz, +8dBu; 0.065% THD+N, 1kHz, +18dBu. Headphone outputs: +19dBu maximum. Power source: 85-264VAC, 47-63Hz, 10W; 12V DC, 650mA typical, 850mA maximum; 24V DC, 325mA typical, 425mA maximum. Dimensions: 270 x 230 x 95mm (w x d x h) mm. Weight: 3.4kg.
Included accessories: Manual, AC power cable.
Optional accessories: The CM-CU21CP Front Cover Plate attaches with screws to the front face after the unit has been set up, leaving only the connectors accessible to the user. The CM-CU21TP Transport Case is a hard case with room for the commentary unit and accessories such as cables headphones and microphones.